Dry-graphite lubricator.



' H- E. WALKER. DRY GRAPHITE LUBRIGATOB. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 6,1908. I 91 8,6 1 6, v Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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DRY GRAPHITE LUBRIGATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED 001. E, 1908. I

' Panented Apr. 20, 1909.

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H. E. WALKER.

DRY GRAPHITE LUBRIOATOR.

APPLICATION IILED 0015,1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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H. E. WALKER.

DRY GRAPHITE LUBRIGATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. s,19oa..

HAROLD E. WALKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DRY-GRAPHITE LUBRICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 5, 190B.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 456,291.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD E. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Dry-Graphite Lubricator, of which the following is a specification.

In the use of graphite as a lubricant for steam engines, it is highly desirable that the same be fed into the cylinder in small quantities at regular intervals. It has heretofore been attempted to do this by using wet graphite, but said attempts have been in a large measure if not wholly unsuccessful and this invention is a mechanism for feeding dry graphite in flake or powder form into the cylinder of the steam or gas engine.

The object of the invention is to produce a cheap and efficient mechanism capable of transporting a small quantity of this dry lubricant from a receptacle containing a large quantity of it into operative position where certain mechanism can force it into the steam cylinder.

Stated somewhat in detail the invention consistsin mechanism for carrying said portion of the dry lubricant into the path of a jet of steam which does the forcing of the graphiteinto the cylinder this in combination with valves and mechanism for operating the same in time to work properly to gether to produce the desired result, and in mechanism for clearing the carrying mechanism of moisture after it has left one charge of the lubricant in the injecting mechanism and before it takes another charge from the storage receptacle of the lubricant. In other words thedevice may be called an injector for dry graphite.

The invention further consists in details of construction which will be hereafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of mechanism embodying the preferred form of this invention. Fig. 2 is a detail section of a ratchet. Fig. 3 is a detail view of a. sight feed device which may be applied to the other mechanism here de scribed. Fig. l is a vertical detail view partially in section corresponding to Fig. 1, taken on the line 4:4 of Fig. 12. Fig. 5 is a detail of a minor part which will be hereafter described. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view at the rim of the cam wheel. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the cam mechanism on the l and ll. Fig. 8 is a detail View of an alternative operating device designed to take the place of the design shown at the left of Figs. 1 and at. Fig. 9 is a side and sectional detail view of certain valves and their operating mechanism in the line and direction indicated by the arows 99 of Fig. 1. Figs. 10 and 11 are detail sections taken respectively on the lines 1010 and 1111 Fig. l. Fig. 12 is a sectional View taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 1. Figure 13 is a detail section taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 14.- is a view looking in the opposite direction from that of Fig. 13 on the line 1313 of Fig. 1.

It is perfectly manifest that some specific embodiment of the device must be illustrated and accordingly the present preferred form of the device is here shown and will now he described, but it must be understood that the design of the device may be varied within reasonable limits without departing from the broad spirit or scope of the invention. Taking up the specific embodiment of the invention here illustrated the dry graphite receptacle 20 is provided having'a conical bottom 21 leading to a passageway 22 in the cylindrical pipe or casing 2t formed in the main frame of the machine. Rigidly connected to this casing 2% by means of the member 25 is another similar casing 26 the two members 24 and 26 being in line with each other, preferably cast in one piece, and having through them an opening in which the rod or bar 27 is adapted to slide longitudinally. The two members 2% and 26 are spaced apart as stated by the member 25 so that there is a clear space 28 between them open to the air of considerably more than the width of the opening 22 in the bottom of the graphite receptacle. In this rod or var 27 is bored or otherwise formed a hole 30 adapted when this rod 27 is moved far enough to the left from the position shown in that of Fig. i to register and be in line with the passageway 22 so that graphite within the receptacle 20 will flow down into it. Parallel to this passageway 22 and on the opposite side of the space 28 and in the particular case here shown integral with the member 26 are two alined casings 32, 33, having in them a passageway 34 with which the opening 30 in the bar 27 registers when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4.

opposite side of wheel 76 from that of Figs. The ends of the member 26 are provided rewith said rod as shown in Fig. 13 they close up the top and bottom openings of the hole 30 in the bar 27 while it is passing across the space 28. These caps 38 and 39 are re spectively mounted upon lever arms 40 and 41 hinged at 42 and spring pressed together by any suitable spring 43. v

The result of the foregoing construction is that when the rod 27 is moved from the position of Fig. 4 to the left until the recess 30 is in line with the passageway 22 a quan-' tity of graphite falls from the chamber 20 into and fills said recess 30 and when the bar 27 is moved to the right back to the position of Fig. 4 said quantity of graphite within said recess 30 is moved through the member 24, between the caps 38 and 39, through the stufing box 36t0 the position of Fig. 4 in which it is in line with the passageway 34;

The opposite ends of the passageway 34 are provided with valve mechanisms of any suitable construction, which when properly operated will momentarily open When the rod 27 is in the position of Fig. 4 for a sufficient length of time to allow a jet of steam or other gas to blow the graphite which has been carried in the manner described from the receptacle 20 into this passageway 34, into the steam cylinder and will then automatically close and remain closed until another quantity of graphite has been brought into the passageway 34. For accomplishing this purpose valves 45 seating at 46 are" provided at opposite ends of the passageway 34, each of said valves being carried at one end by the circular rods 47, inclosed by the springs 48 bearing against the center portions 49 of the interior perforated plugs 50, and on the opposite end by the cross shaped members 51 having between the bars of the cross, passageways 52 through which fluid may pass when the valves are off their seats, as shown in Fig. 4.

Journaled at right angles to the center axis of the passageway 34 in the members 32 and 33 are two shafts 54, best seen in Fig. 9, each provided with stuffing boxes 55 so that steam can not escape around them. Each of these shafts 54 is mounted, as shown, adjacent to the interior end of the member 51 of each valve 45, and carries an eccentric 56. These eccentrics are of such a size and shape that when they are in the position of Fig. 4, they hold the valves 45 open against the resistance of the springs 48, and that when said eccentrics are swung through an angu lar distance, they allow said valves 45 to seat themselves upon the seats 46, and thus effectually close both ends of the passageway 34. Rigidly secured on the outer ends of these shafts 54 are lever members 58 having in them elongated slots 59 through which pins 60 on opposite ends of a cross-head 61, to be hereinafter described, pass. This crosshead 61 is rigidly secured by a set screw 62 or any other suitable means upon a rod 64, slidably mounted in suitable bearings 65 and 66. Rigidly secured upon or near the opposite end of this rod 64 by means of screw 68 or other suitable means, is a collar 69. Between this collar 69 and the stationary portion 72 of the frame of the machine, in which bearing 66 exists is a coil spring 7 0 adapted to normally urge the rod 64 to the left in Fig. 1.

Rigidly secured to and in the particular case here illustrated integral with the member 24 heretofore described of the frame of the machine is an L shaped arm 72-73, as best seen in Fig. 12. On or near the outer end of the portion 7 3 of this L shaped arm a bearing 74 in which'is journaled a shaft 75 carrying a drive wh el 76. To hold shaft 7 in proper position with reference to member 72-73 a collar 7 5 is attached to its end by screw 75. On one face of this driving wheel 7 6 is a cam 77, circular throughout most of its circumference, but having at one point a tooth 7 8, best seen in Fig. 4. This cam is adapted to travel in a clockwise direction, viewed in Fig. 1, and is engaged by aroller journaled upon the head 81 of the screw 68, heretofore described, the spring 70 heretofore described serving to always hold said roller 81 in contact with the surface of the cam 777S.

The parts immediately heretofore described are so shaped that when the roller 80 is at the extreme point of the tooth 78 on the cam as seen in Fig. 1, the cross-head 61 is also in such a position that the valves 45 are open as shown in Fig. 4, and steam from the pipe 85 may blow through that valve opening between the valves 45 and the seats 46 and the intermediate passageway 34 to an exhaust pipe 86 (or the direction may be reversed if the steam supply is connected with the opposite end of the mechanism). hen, now, the cam 77 is rotated very slightly from the position of Fig. 1, until the roller 80 passes off from the point 7 8 of the cam and over the point 88 on the cam immediately adjacent thereto, the spring 7 0 will throw all of the parts to the left in Fig. 1, and thus rotate the eccentrics 56 to a point in which the valves 45 seat themselves upon the seats 46 and the steam can not enter the passageway 34 and remains shut oft until the roller 80 begins to travel from the circular portion of the cam 77 up the inclined face of the tooth 78, thereby again opening the valves.

On the opposite side of the drive wheel 76 from the cam 7 7 is a compound cam 90 engaged by two rollers 91 and 92 carried by the rod 27 heretofore described, said cam fore described to the left from the position in Fig. etc the position where it is in line with the opening 22 in the receptacle 20, from which position the cam 90 returns the rod to, alinement with the passageway 34.

Briefly summarizing the foregoing, it will be seen that rotating the wheel (6 causes the rod 27 to carry a small quantity of graphite in the recess 30 within it from the receptaole 20into line with the passageway 3st, and that when it reaches this position, steam is al owed to momentarily flow through that passageway and carry the graphite out of either the pipe 85 or 86, as the case may be. In practice, the lower pipe 86 the one ordinarily connected to the cylinder of the steam engine to be lubricated and the pipe 85 is connected to the source of steam supply, with the result that when steam is admitted to the pipe 85, graphite is forced from the receptacle 30 in the rod 27 into the steam cylinder. These cams are also so proportioned that after this operation takes place, the valves 45 close and the rod 27 again moves to the left from the position in Fig. 41 for the purpose of obtaining another supply of graphite from the receptacle 20.

It has heretofore been stated that the graphite located within the receptacle 20 is dry and it will be entirely manifest to the reader that some moisture from the steam passing through the passageway 34 in the manner described will moisten and be apt to collect in the receptacle 30 and the rod 27. In order to get rid of this moisture as much as possible while it is passing from alinement with passageway 3st to alinement with passageway 22, the open space 28 and the jaws 4-0 and 41 heretofore described are provided, and the following means are provided for opening them while the rod 27 is making said movement. A red 95 is slidably mounted at 96 and 97 in the frame of the machine in such a position that its forward point 98 is in line with the center of the space between the jaws 40 and &1, as best seen in Fig. 13, said point being normally held out of engagement with said jaws by a spring 99 engaging at one end a collar 100 upon the rod, and at the other end with the frame of the machine. On the wheel 76, heretofore described, is a third cam 102 so shaped and arranged wit-h reference to the other cams that it engages the end 103 of the rod 95 during the time the recess 30 in rod 27 is moving to the left. in Figs. 1 and at across the open space 28, while going from passageway Set to passageway 22, and thereby moves and holds the point 98 of the rod in between the jaws 40 and a1, thereby forcing them open to the dotted line position of Fig. 13 and holding them there during this period with the result that any moisture within the recess 30 of rod 97 is free to drip out. As soon as the recess 30 has passed the space during this movement the cam 102 moves out of engagement with the end 103 of rod 05, thereby allowing the spring 99 to hold said rod and its point entirely clear of the jaws -10 and 4:1, with the result that the spring 43 heretofore described holds the jaws together and the plates 38 and 39 clamp the surface of the rod 27 and thereby form a closed passageway through which the recess 30 travels in its return movement from alinement with passageway 22 to alinement with passageway 23% this while full of graphite, as heretofore described, with the result that graphite cannot drop from the receptacle in the rod 27 while passing across the space 28.

In order to propel the main driving wheel 76, any suitable mechanism may be used, two alternate forms being here illustrated. That of Fig. 1 consists in the lever 110 pivoted on shaft 75 carrying a ratchet dog 11), best seen in Fig. 2, engaging ratchct'teeth 1153 upon the face of the wheel 76, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The opposite end of this lever 110 is connected at 111- to some reciprocating part of the engine, with the result that this lever is given a reciprocating movement and operates, during its reciprocation, wheel in a clockwise direction. In the other form of operating mechanism, best seen in Fig. 8, an ordinary bevel gear 116 is applied to the circumference of the wheel 76. In this gear 110 meshes a bevel pinion 117 carried by a shaft 118 mounted in a suitable stationary standard 119. The shaft 1 18 is connected to any rotating part of the engine, with the result that such rotary motion is transmitted through the bevel pinion and gear to the wheel 76.

Summarizing the whole of the foregoin the device is connected to an engine in such a way that power is transmitted from a moving part of the engine to the wheel 76 and the 'mssageway is connected at one end to a source of steam supply, and at the other end to the cylinder of the engine. The pulverized graphite to be fed into the engine is placed in the receptacle Q0, and as the engine is operated, quantities of graphite are successively dropped into the receptacle 30 in the rod 27 and carried from the passageway 22 to the passageway 34, in which position steam carries the particular quantity of graphite within the opening in the rod 27 into the engine cylinder, after which the steam is shut off, the carrying receptacle moves back to original loading position, the jaws l0 and 41 opening intermediate of such motion for the purpose of allowing the escape of any steam which may have collected in the passageway 30 while in contact with the steam, as heretofore described.

In Fig. 3 is shown one of many forms of sight feed device which may be applied intermediate between the pipe 86 and the engine cylinder or at any other convenient point so that the operator may see whether the graphite is feeding properly.

The device of this invention is as useful for gas engines as steam engines.

The claims are 1. In n'iechanism of the class described, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain lubricant, a passageway for fluid having one end connected to a source of fluid under pressure, and the other end connected to the object to be lubricated adjacent thereto, valves for said passage *ay controlling the admission of said fluid and the entrance to the object to be lubricated, a carrier capable of conveying a quantity of lubricant from the receptacle to the fluid passageway, the mechanism operating said carrier and said valves adapted to automatically open said valves when the carrier is in register with the fluid passageway, and to allow them to close when it is not.

2'. In mechanism of the class described, a receptacle for lubricant, an independent pipe thereto having one end connected to a source of fluid supply and the other end connected to the cylinder to he lubricated, a rod ex tending transversely through the receptacle and through said pipe, there being an opening in said rod adapted to register alternately with said pipe and with said receptacle, valves controlling said pipe on opposite sides of said rod, and mechanism operated by the engine to be lubricated for reciprocating said rod between alinement with the receptacle and with the pipe, and also controlling said valves to open them when the rod is in alinement with the pipe.

In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a suitable receptacle for lubricant having a passageway leading into a bearing for a slidable rod,a rod slidable in said bearing, a pipe independent from said receptacle and at a distance therefrom, a bearing connected to said pipe in which said rod is also adapted to slide through the f passageway in the pipe, there being a recess l in said rod adapted to register successively with the passageway in the pipe and with the passageway from the receptacle, mechanism intermediate between the two mentioned bearings capable of being moved to two difierent positions, in one position closing the opening in said rod as it passes be tween register with receptacle and with the pipe, and in the other position leaving said recess in the rod open, automatic mechanism for moving said rod between said two positions, said mechanism engaging the closing means above referred to so as to close the opening in the rod when it is moving in one direction and to leave it open when it is moving in the opposite direction.

l. In mechanism of the class described, in combination, a receptacle for lubricant, a passageway for gas adjacent thereto and inclependent therefrom, a conveyer movable backward and forward adapted to successively register with the receptacle and with the passageway for gas, mechanism interposed between the receptacle and the pipe comprising a cover for said conveyer, and a mechanism for operating said conveyor and said cover to move the con-veyer backward and forward between the positions registering successively with the receptacle and with the pipe, and to simultaneously move said cover so that the conveyer is open when moving in one direction and is closed when moving in the opposite direction.

5. In mechanism of the class described, the combination of a receptacle for lubricant, an independent distant pipe for gas, a rod having an opening therein serving as a conveyer for lubricant and adapted to register successively with the receptacle and with the pipe, pivoted jaws mounted intermediate between the receptacle and the pipe having cover plates adapted to close the opening in the rod, automatic mechanism moving said rod backward and forward between register with the receptacle and with the pipe, pro vided with mechanism engaging said pivoted levers in such a way that they close the openin g in the rod when it moves in one direction, and leave it open when it moves in the opposite direction.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD E. IVALKER. W itnesses DWIGHT B. CHEEVER, C. J. CHRIsTorrEL. 

